All articles tagged with #radionuclides
A French expedition under the NODSSUM program found that more than 200,000 barrels of mid-20th-century radioactive waste dumped in the Northeast Atlantic have leaked, with cobalt-60, niobium-94, cesium-137 and americium-241 detected in sediments; several barrels are corroded and now host marine life, and researchers will analyze samples to determine the extent of leakage.
Astronomers determine the age of planets and stars using various methods. For stars, they compare subtle changes in brightness and color over time to mathematical models that predict stellar evolution. They also study the spin speeds and magnetic activity of stars, as well as use asteroseismology to analyze vibrations on their surfaces. Determining the age of planets is more challenging, but scientists use radionuclides to date rocks and meteorites in our solar system. They also count craters on rocky surfaces and study the distribution of meteorites for giant planets. These methods provide estimates of planetary ages, which are often consistent with the ages of their host stars.
Astronomers determine the age of planets and stars by studying various factors. For stars, they compare measurements of brightness, color, spin speed, and magnetic activity to mathematical models that predict stellar evolution. They also use a method called asteroseismology, which studies vibrations on the surfaces of stars caused by waves traveling through their interiors. For planets, scientists rely on radionuclides, special atoms that release energy over time, to determine their ages. They also count craters on rocky surfaces and study the distribution of meteorites. The accuracy of these estimates is confirmed by comparing the ages of rocks in our solar system to the age of the Sun.